Farm and Agriculture Roofing in Nebraska - Done Right the First Time
You deserve a contractor who shows up, does the job correctly, and is still reachable six months later.
30+ Years in Business
Employee Owned
4 Nebraska Locations
7,843 Projects Complete
We've Been Out This Way for a Long Time
Tillotson opened its Kearney office to put a team in the middle of Nebraska's ag country. In 2019, we added an Aurora location specifically to serve the region around Grand Island, York, and the communities around them. We're not a metro contractor who drives out once and moves on. If you've had roof work done on a machine shed or grain bin in central Nebraska, there's a decent chance you know someone who has worked with us.
Ag Buildings Take a Beating. Most of Them Don't Get Looked at Until Something Forces the Issue.
Machine sheds, grain bins, and pole buildings work hard year after year. They get loaded, unloaded, rained on, hailed on, and frozen - and most of the time, nobody gets up on the roof until water shows up somewhere it shouldn't. A leak during harvest or a compromised grain bin roof heading into storage season isn't an inconvenience. It's an operational problem with real dollar signs attached.
The other issue is the wrong contractor. Not every roofer understands ag buildings. The substrate is different. The access is different. The stakes around timing are different. A residential crew on a grain bin roof or a large pole building often uses the wrong products - and the failure shows up at the worst possible time. Hank's probably seen it. We've seen it too.
That's Where Tillotson Comes In
Gene Tillotson grew up on a farm ten miles south of Farnam. He didn't start this company to serve agriculture - he started it because he came from it. That's been true since the late '80s, and it hasn't changed.
Our estimators know grain bins, pole buildings, and metal structures. They're field people who tell you what the roof actually needs - not what generates the biggest invoice.
Since January 1, 2023, Tillotson has been 100% employee-owned. The people who come out to your place have a real stake in getting it right. That's as close to a handshake guarantee as you can get.
What We Do on
Ag Buildings
We handle three main categories of agriculture roofing in Nebraska. Each one is different, and we treat them that way.
Grain Bin Roofing & Coating
A grain bin roof lives in about as harsh an environment as metal goes. Temperature swings, condensation cycles, UV, Nebraska hail - the coating breaks down, seams open up, and fasteners back out over time. We inspect the full roof system, seal seams, and apply coating systems to extend the life of the bin. When full panel replacement is genuinely needed, we say so. When it isn't, we say that too.
Machine Shed & Pole Building Roofing
Pole buildings and machine sheds present specific challenges - large spans, exposed fasteners, metal-over-purlin systems that flex and move. When a fastener fails or a panel seam separates, water finds the inside fast. We work on steel and metal panel systems, handle re-roofing when the existing system is done, and address insulation and ventilation issues that drive condensation problems inside the building.
Metal Building Restoration
A lot of ag metal buildings have good bones but a roof that's starting to show its age - faded panels, surface rust, minor seam separation. Full replacement isn't always the answer. Restoration systems - elastomeric coatings and seam reinforcement - can add significant years to a metal building roof at a fraction of replacement cost. We'd rather tell you a coating will handle it than sell you a replacement you don't need.
Here's How It Works
1. Schedule a Free Roof Inspection
Call us or fill out the form. We'll get an estimator out to the property at no charge. No sales pitch at the end - just a look at the roof.
2. Get a Clear, Honest Recommendation
We tell you what it needs - coating, repair, or replacement. Written estimate with straight numbers. No upsell.
3. Work Completed - Backed by Warranty
We show up when we said we would and back everything with a warranty. Same people, same company, same phone number if something comes up.
Take a look at recent ag roofing projects - grain bins, machine sheds, and metal buildings across central Nebraska.
These are farmers and operators from the same part of Nebraska you're in - hear what they had to say about working with Tillotson.
"They have been in business in our area for many years. They have a history of doing great service."
"Tillotson was a great company to work with. The salesman I met with was Ricky, and he helped me line up a much needed spray foam insulation on an old shop. He was prompt to show up, explained everything very thoroughly and made it very understandable. Communication was great over the phone and also with text and e-mails. The team that showed up to do the work was prompt, completed the job timely (and to my needs), did a good job cleaning up and were easy to work with. The people I got to work with made the job and experience seem less!"
"Second time we have used this company on our ranch, always helpfull, would highly recommend"
Common Questions About Agriculture Roofing in Nebraska
Do you work on grain bins - including bins that have grain in them?
Yes. Grain bin roof work is common for our ag customers in Nebraska. In many cases, seam sealing and coating can be done with grain in the bin, depending on scope and bin design. We assess that during the inspection and tell you what's possible. If the work needs to happen between harvests, we plan around that. The goal is getting it done with as little disruption as possible.
Can a metal machine shed roof be restored instead of replaced?
Often, yes - and that's always our first question. If the structure is sound and the panels haven't failed past restoration, a coating system can add years to the life of that roof for significantly less than full replacement. We use elastomeric and metal-specific coatings designed for Midwest conditions. We'll tell you honestly when a coating is the right call and when it isn't. We're not in the business of selling replacements that aren't needed.
How do I know when my pole barn roof needs attention?
The most common signs are visible rust on panels, water staining on interior walls or floors after rain, daylight visible through the roofline, and fasteners that have backed out or show rust streaks. A lot of pole building roofs also develop condensation from the inside - that's not always a roofing failure, but it's worth looking at. If you're seeing any of these, a free inspection is the right first step.
What's the best roofing system for a Nebraska machine shed?
There's no single answer - it depends on the existing structure, your budget, and what you need the building to do. Metal panel re-roofing over existing purlins is common for larger sheds. Coating makes sense when panels are structurally sound but weathered. We'll look at what you have and give you a recommendation based on that - not on which option is most profitable for us.
How do I schedule an inspection for a rural property?
Call us at (800) 643-5731 or fill out the form. Let us know the county and general location - that helps us route the right estimator from Aurora or Kearney. We'll confirm a date and show up when we said we would. No fee, no obligation. We'll tell you what we found and what we'd recommend. The rest is up to you.
Where We Work
Our ag roofing work is anchored out of Aurora and Kearney, putting us in close reach of Hall, Hamilton, York, Adams, Buffalo, Phelps, Dawson, and Custer counties. We travel for ag work. A grain bin or machine shed outside our normal radius isn't a job we walk away from. Call us and we'll tell you honestly whether we can make it work.
Ready to Get Eyes on Your Roof?
Call or schedule an inspection - no cost, no obligation, just a straight answer about what your building needs.